The Israelites were God's chosen people. The Lord performed miracle after miracle for them. He promised to deliver them from slavery in Egypt. When Pharaoh didn't want to let them go, the Israelites witnessed the 10 plagues, which finally convinced Pharaoh to let them leave. With the final plague, they witnessed the Passover, whereby the Angel of Death killed all the Egyptian firstborn but "passed over" the Israelite firstborn. They witnessed the Red Sea open up before them when they were fleeing from Pharaoh's army (after Pharaoh changed his mind about letting them go), and they walked through the sea on dry ground with walls of water on either side of them. Then, when Pharaoh's army pursued them, they saw God let the waters go, drowning all of the Egyptian army. Just three days later, when they were thirsty and grumbled because the water at Marah was bitter, they saw God make it sweet - simply by having Moses throw a stick in the water. Then, days later, as they were walking in the desert, they began to grumble again because they were hungry. God sent them bread from heaven in the mornings and quail in the evenings.
If anyone had reason to praise the Lord and thank Him for His many blessings and NOT grumble, it was the Israelites. Seriously, bread from HEAVEN?? (I wonder if it tasted anything like a homemade yeast roll…Mmmm!) But, would you believe that just a short while later, they started grumbling again!?! They were thirsty...again. Seriously!?! What is with these people??? I remember hearing these stories for the first time when I was in junior high school and thinking, "If I had been an Israelite, I would not have been like that! I would have praised God! How could they be so dense?" Wellllll, fast forward 15 years or so, and here I am…a modern-day, American Israelite. The only difference is, I'm not grumbling while I wander in the desert. I'm grumbling right here in my very own Promised Land. I guess our real Promised Land is Heaven, but my life here in my little house with my little family is so full of blessings that it looks a lot more like a promised land than a desert. Anyway, my point is, I'm grumbling even after all the Lord has done for me, and often I grumble ABOUT the things the Lord has done for me.
"Ugh! I'm so sick of sweeping under this high chair! I, seriously, sweep under here 3 times a day, and it's still the messiest place in our house."
Instead of... "Thank You, God, that I have a child to sit in this high chair and make this mess. Thank You that I have a home with floors to sweep when some have no home or dirt floors. Thank You that I got to choose my floors and could choose a tile that doesn't show dirt so that the mess is not so noticeable. Thank You that my children do not have to go hungry - that we have food to eat, so much food that we don't even miss the bits that fall to the floor uneaten. Thank You that I have a healthy child who is developing appropriately can (mostly) feed himself; some are not so fortunate. Thank You that I have the physical ability to sweep my floors when there are others who can't and would love to. Thank You for the privilege of caring for my family."
"I hate laundry! Why do we have soooooo much laundry?!?"
Instead of... "Lord, thank You that I have a big family to make all this dirty laundry. Thank You for my children who are healthy and can play and get dirty. Thank You that we have enough clothes that we can go days or even weeks without doing laundry when so many have only the clothes on their backs. Thank You that we have a washing machine and dryer to do our clothes. I don't have to wash them in a stream or in a wash tub like people in other parts of the world. Thank You that I have a wonderful husband who helps with the laundry and doesn't complain about it like I do. Thank You for the chore of laundry, as doing something I do not enjoy for my family teaches me to be less self-entitled and gives me an opportunity to tangibly put my families needs above my own desires, making me more like You."
"I'm so tired! Why is she waking up, again? I was just in there with her an hour ago. Will I ever sleep through the night again???"
Instead of... "Thank You, Lord, that I have this precious baby waking me up at night. Thank You that I have the privilege of breastfeeding, even if it causes her to wake up more often (more easily digested than formula). Thank You that she is healthy, eating well, and growing well. Thank You that I have a big comfortable bed that makes it hard to get up during the night. Thank You that I have a husband to share this bed with who will be here waiting for me when I get back in the bed. Thank You that I sleep so soundly because I feel safe in our home. Thank You that my baby girl goes back to sleep and sleeps for hours between feedings because she also feels safe and is well-fed, unlike so many precious children in this world. Thank You for sleepless nights as they help me to rely on You for my strength and energy, strengthening my trust in You."
When I stop to think of all I have to be thankful for, I feel so spoiled for grumbling. I'm so thankful for our Bible study/Sunday school teacher who pointed this out to us a few weeks ago. My prayer is that I will stop every "grumbly" thought before it takes root in my mind and replace it with thanksgiving. Who knows, maybe one day, my natural instinct will be thanksgiving rather than grumbling.
"Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." Ephesians 5:20 (emphasis mine)
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